Coaches learn ways to assess injuries

Doctors teach team officials how to spot medical emergencies

A young football player falls to the ground, gasping for air. Is it asthma or heat exhaustion?

Or, a player limps off the field, rubbing his knee. Is he done for the game, or is he headed for the emergency room?

After spending a day listening to doctors analyze scenarios, more than 800 local football and cheerleading coaches have a better chance of deciding correctly. They recently attended a free coaches' sports symposium created by Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood and the Florida Youth Athletic Association.

League directors and coaches said the day of instruction was the first of its kind in the area and covered ground that usually goes undiscussed.

"We've been to a class or two, but nothing like this," said Jerome Jackson, coach of the Delray Rocks 110-pound team. "In youth football, there are oftentimes when if a player is injured, it's on us to make the decision.

"And the more information we have, the better it is for the kids."

South Florida's two largest youth football leagues begin their seasons this month. The American Youth Football League begins play Saturday. The South Florida Youth Football League, which includes the Delray Rocks, as well as programs in Boynton Beach and Lake Worth, begins Aug. 24.

With football comes injuries. Each year, about 450,000 children 15 and younger nationwide are treated by a physician for a football injury, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

"We know when football season starts by the activity in our office," said Dr. Stephen Storer, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who spoke to the coaches.

The Florida Youth Athletic Association, a nonprofit group created two years ago, worked with the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital staff to better educate coaches, said Stephan Benson, the group's executive director. The association, which includes board members from Pepsi-Cola and Wal-Mart, helps youth football leagues with insurance, equipment and training. The organization eventually will add other sports, Benson said.

The doctors also handed out a 42-page, palm-sized laminated guide to emergencies for coaches to put in their equipment bags. Coaches spent half a day being certified in CPR.

"If we can prevent one life-altering situation, or a death on the field, it's well worth it," said Mario Salceda, administrator for physician practices with Memorial Healthcare System.

For example, if players are sweating profusely and can't get cool, it's heat exhaustion; if they're gasping for breath, then it's asthma, Dr. Randolph Cohen said. When a player limps off the field, coaches should conduct a quick assessment. Players with limited mobility, pain or swelling are not going to be able to return to the game safely, Cohen said.

"The symposium was designed for coaches to figure out if it's safe to play, if they need to sit out the game or head to the emergency room for further evaluation," Cohen said. "We tried to give them a number of things that could go wrong, because if you know about them, it's easier to recognize them."

Youth football practice began in early July, and games run until about Thanksgiving. The teams, for children ages 5 to 15, practice four nights a week and play Saturdays. The coaches are volunteers, but most said they were more than willing to devote one more day to football, considering what they learned.

Norman Giddings, Jackson's assistant for the 110-pound Rocks team, said he was skeptical about coming to the symposium. But he said he learned concrete details, such as when to leave a player's helmet on and how to use four coaches to more safely move an injured player who couldn't get up. He used to do it by himself.

"To tell you the truth, as we walked in here I thought 'just another boring class,' " he said. "But this will benefit us for years."

Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.

ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD New season: What's in store for the league's defending champions? Page 22 Dedication: Find out what keeps youth football coaches in the game in a video report. Go to Sun-Sentinel.com/youthfootball .

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Healthy tips

Be aware of the heat, and don't deny water to players as a means of punishment. Use sit-ups or push-ups instead, said Dr. Peter Antevy, who specializes in pediatric emergency medicine. Removing an overheated child's helmet can help since people radiate heat mostly from their heads.

Know the medical histories of your players. For example, a child taking medication may already be dehydrated, Antevy said.

Evaluate the extent of a player's injury by asking him to squat and then walk. The action requires a combination of strength and balance. "It's very difficult to squat and walk if you have any serious underlying injury," said Dr. Randolph Cohen, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.